A daughter who overcame mental health issues was brought to tears of joy when her proud mom surprised her with her first-ever car after helping her turn her life around.
Jaidalyn Santiago, from Springfield, Massachusetts, struggled with postpartum depression and a severe eating disorder, which saw her weigh just 70 pounds, her mom, Jacqueline, said.
As much as Jacqueline tried to help, nothing seemed to work, which made her deeply worried about her daughter’s wellbeing – but in the past year, Jaidalyn has seen her life turn around.
Having focused on her mental and physical wellbeing, the stay-at-home mom was assisted by Jacqueline, a personal trainer, who designed a gym routine for her daughter, which saw her work out with her mom five times a week.
Jaidalyn, a mom of two, would also help her mother part-time, but a lack of transportation limited her in what she could do for her mom’s business, herself, and for her kids.
And so, having seen how much effort her daughter had been putting in, Jacqueline decided to surprise her daughter with her first car.
On April 27, at Jacqueline’s home in Chicopee, Massachusetts, Jaidalyn opened a gift, which she thought was some new workout gear and sneakers.
But when the mom-of-two looked inside the shoe box, she discovered the keys to her brand-new vehicle – a gesture that immediately made her burst into tears while her daughter, Arya, watched on nearby.
Jaidalyn then headed straight outside to check out the ride, in an emotional moment captured on video by Jacqueline.
The mom and daughter duo, who are now planning to become business partners in the future, wanted to share Jaidalyn’s story in the hope of inspiring others who may be going through similar issues.
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Jacqueline said: “She always mentioned how she wished she had a car and could be able to do so much more for herself and the kids.
“I refuse to see her go backwards after so many years of me trying to help her overcome depression.
“That’s when I decided to surprise her with the car.
“After seeing my daughter’s reaction, I shed tears – tears of joy because I knew this is all she’s been asking for.
“I raised my kids all alone as a single mother.
“I will do anything I can to help my daughter not to go through the struggles I went through in life being a single mom.
“My message to all the women battling any mental health disorder is to take care of yourself and prioritize your wellbeing.”
